Re: Are you "negative" about the economy to new grads?

Posted by MrsM-6-7-08

I dont know a lot of new grads but I do the hiring, and people are looking for big $$$
and its not realistic in this economy.

I just offered someone a position for 28k to start with a raise to 31,200 in 3 months and she told me thanks but no thanks, she wanted at least 35k even though she is making 26k now and has horrible hours and this was a 9-5 job.

People are greedy, she pretty much turned down making an extra 9k in 3 months time.
she was young maybe 22 or 23

Message edited 7/23/2012 10:54:03 PM.

Re: Are you "negative" about the economy to new grads?

If it's a few thousand more, sometimes that really only translates to $50.00 more in a paycheck which may not be worth it to someone to change employers.

I also work somewhere the health insurance is really expensive if you have a family.

After taxes and my health insurance is paid, I make a pretty low salary, although it doesn't look that way on paper.

However, at the same time, I am steadily employed and the work is still coming in so I don't feel like my job is threatened.

Having a family that depends on me or healthcare, I am REALLY nervous to go anywhere else because at least now, I don't feel like my job is threatened, KWIM?


I know there are some grads out there who don't see the bigger picture in terms of salary, especially if they may have great benefits on top of it.

There's lots of factors that go into it though. I don't think it's as easy as to say "she'd be making more here, can't believe she turned it down."

Re: Are you "negative" about the economy to new grads?

Posted by cncforever

Posted by MrsM-6-7-08

I dont know a lot of new grads but I do the hiring, and people are looking for big $$$
and its not realistic in this economy.

I just offered someone a position for 28k to start with a raise to 31,200 in 3 months and she told me thanks but no thanks, she wanted at least 35k even though she is making 26k now and has horrible hours and this was a 9-5 job.

People are greedy, she pretty much turned down making an extra 9k in 3 months time.
she was young maybe 22 or 23

I don't call that greed. After taxes she is bringing home like 21k. College grads should want to walk into 35k at least, IMO

I don't care what Ny says should be minimum wage. It should be a lot higher for what is minimum to live in NY.

I know your husbands company does well and has not been hit by recession, and I know you work for him/with him, but what would you do if you didn't? Kwim? Would u want that salary if you had a degree and loans and such? I think u were the poster who had trouble finding good employees and that may be why. Who wants tO work their ass off with a degree for 28k? Most wouldn't want to wake up for that amount. That's like 10 an hour. Starbucks pays more. With benefits too.


Greed to me is employers wanting the crem de la crem who will give 150 percent but pay next to nothing, even when their company is flourishing and growing.
I hope my tone is not snarky. I don't intend it to be. I'm just trying to point out a realistic or different point of view.

Re: Are you "negative" about the economy to new grads?

I also think sometimes parents are filling their kids heads with lies about what a realistic starting salary is.

I have a younger cousin (very smart girl, getting her PhD right now), however, her father works for the gov't, always has, and has always made around 6 figures and lives in the DC area.

While I get that he wants the best for his dtr, he also fills her mind that she should be making at least $60K-$70K a year as a starting salary.

She got most of her schooling paid for in scholarships (go her!), but also lives in an area of the country where that's frequently unheard of for a couple to bring in, KWIM?

You also can't compare fields.

I see this A LOT with the younger generation.

Maybe their friend went for business and is making in the 50's or 60's a year.

A psychology major generally is not going to get that starting out.

I know from my own experience.

Re: Are you "negative" about the economy to new grads?

Posted by MrsM-6-7-08

I dont know a lot of new grads but I do the hiring, and people are looking for big $$$
and its not realistic in this economy.

I just offered someone a position for 28k to start with a raise to 31,200 in 3 months and she told me thanks but no thanks, she wanted at least 35k even though she is making 26k now and has horrible hours and this was a 9-5 job.

People are greedy, she pretty much turned down making an extra 9k in 3 months time.
she was young maybe 22 or 23

Re: Are you "negative" about the economy to new grads?

Re: Are you "negative" about the economy to new grads?

Re: Are you "negative" about the economy to new grads?

I'm realistic when i get into those kinds of conversations. I don't sugarcoat, but I'm not all doom and gloom either. I'm like that with everything. Realistic.

My second job is as a travel agent. People think it's so glamorous and fun, so I have been approached MANY times by people asking me how I got into it and what it's like. They're all like "Oh wow, I just love Disney, cruises, whatever, and I love to plan! I'd like to do it" and I tell them what it's like, how much hard work goes into it, how many hours I have to put in for each commission (and how small that commission is), and that I'm not constantly being whisked away on free vacations and they're usually like "uhhh, thanks but no thanks". I do tell them how much I love helping people make memories and finding ways to help them save money that they didn't realize, and i tell them about the perks we do have, but they are still like "I had no idea". I think every field is like that. There are ups and downs,and it's usually not at all what people picture,

ETA: it reminds me of those "what people think I do, what I really do" pictures

Message edited 7/24/2012 12:09:19 PM.

Re: Are you "negative" about the economy to new grads?

Damn skippy...Only because I think college is b.s. I think most colleges set kids up with this false hope that they will get the job of their dreams right after they graduate and that they will help you find that job....meanwhile once you graduate they are done with you. Nowadays it seems that you need to know someone to get into certain jobs. I think if you have experience in the field and know how hard it is to get into it, then the more honesty and knowledge you tell someone whose slightly interested, the better off they will be.

I also think that kids dont need to major in anything specific to get into fields. I mean I have been in the retail industry for the past 4-5 years and I have seen so many kids get buying / planning positions who had majored in fields with absolutelty no relation to retail in college (for example - history)! If I had known this I woulda majored in art! LOL jk

Re: Are you "negative" about the economy to new grads?

As to the starting salary issue, I turned down interviews, etc when I found out the jobs were going to be paying less. I felt I had a college degree, I thought I could earn $35K, if not $40K. I stopped the interview process for a job that wanted to pay $30-33K to start. I know it's not a lot of money difference (I eventually took another position within a different division of the same company for $35K), but it was sort of a point of pride, i guess, plus I knew at that point I had to support my mom.

Also, having to pay off student loan debt is no joke. I have friends who are attorneys and they really feel they can't take lower paying jobs and "work their way up" because their salary at these jobs would not even cover their loan payment. They feel forced to take a higher paying job, even if it's not what they want to do.

Also, some of these kids started college and took on the loans in a VERY different economy. When I ws transitioning from theatre to my current job back in 2007, I had an immediate need for health insurance, but the economy was such that I felt I could hold out for higher pay and at that time. I could have held out for even more at that point, probably. If they were entering college in '07, the probably planned for a booming economy, not what we have now.

I DO think kids are told a lie that if you work hard and go to college,etc your life will be easy and you'll be guaranteed a good job. I don't think it's neccessarily the kids having an undue sense of entitlement. I know I was told that all my life...that i had to go to college so I could get a good, stable, well-paying job. I took on student loans expecting that would be the case.

Re: Are you "negative" about the economy to new grads?

I am pushing trade school on my two.
that will always pay the bills.
with that money, then they can go to college.

dh and i will not be paying or signing any loans towards the "college experiece"

I saw on the news that if you want a good job tomorrow, become a truck driver. starting at 55k.

my sister is an elem ed teacher in NC. she is working, but making under 30k. she bartends to make ends meet.

job security is in restaurants. my dh, brother and bil have never had an issues being hired and promoted. dh graduated with a marketing degree...he was the only heading towards restaurants...got a job right away.

Re: Are you "negative" about the economy to new grads?

If a recent grad, college student, or a parent of either of the two ask me about teaching especially elem ed I tell them don't do it! There are just no jobs. It's so sad.

When I graduated in '99 I was in a different field so I have no idea what the teaching market was like but I had a job lined up which I later declined and then had a job almost immediately after I got home from college and when I didn't like that one anymore I got another. I cannot imagine what it is like right now.

Re: Are you "negative" about the economy to new grads?

Message edited 7/25/2012 7:35:12 AM.

Re: Are you "negative" about the economy to new grads?

The kids need to know the reality of the situation. Especially since they're just leaving the shangri-la environment of academia, where they're completely shielded from negativity and failure, to come face-to-face with the cruel world. Not to be dramatic, but it's the truth. A lot of kids seem to think they're going to come out of college and be the boss in a few years, think certain jobs are below their educational credentials, and have not adapted to an environment where it's dog-eat-dog and very little slack is cut.

Like my friend's cousin who just got fired because he sleepwalks and can't wake up in the morning. He hasn't developed skills to manage this because mommy has woken him up every day for 22 years.

Or my friend who turned her nose up at an administrative assistant job because she felt she was worth more than that having graduated from a "good school." She's currently still seeking employment.

The truth will set you free!

Re: Are you "negative" about the economy to new grads?

i will always push a trade unless they are brilliant in math/science. I never believed in the hype of going to college = a great job. I just went to inexpensive state schools to get a degree in order to get my foot in the door with LOW paying starting positions. I was earning the same at waldbaums when i graduated and started at a print shop. Within a year I bumped up significantly because I proved myself.

I would never ever push someone in a music, theatre, graphic design/photography career. Not saying its possible because it is just not a easy path to earn an income to support more than one unless you put YEARS of hard work into it.

Re: Are you "negative" about the economy to new grads?

Re: Are you "negative" about the economy to new grads?

Ha! That's funny.

While a lot of our clients are really not in bad areas, I find that a lot of ppl don't want to work for us because they don't want to have to do "field work".

However, they miss out on the fact that you gain amazing experience and skills because the position involves things like discharge planning and medical social work. I see this as requirements for MANY positions in our field nowadays.

You also can do your work wherever, and if you are a good planner, can do one field day a week and then be in the office the rest of the time, if you are the type of person who doesn't want to "be in the field".

A lot of newer social work grads I come across want to do things like "therapy" from the very beginning.

I have found that if you actually start out in the "trenches" so to speak, it really prepares you to work with ALL KINDS of people, and deal with all kinds of problems that will come your way.

Re: Are you "negative" about the economy to new grads?

Re: Are you "negative" about the economy to new grads?

As someone who is educated and experienced with stellar references.. I am VERY NEGATIVE to new grads.

I have been out of work for over a year. The bites I have gotten are looking to lowball.

There is one advertisement on Craigslist proudly offering 20K a year!!! And the description of duties is NOT entry level. I think it's nuts what employers are getting away with these days. And it is sad because people are SO desperate they will pretty much take whatever is offered because they have no choice. So employers wind up with resentful, bitter employees.

So yeah.. when new grads talk to me, I tell them that they are entering the workforce at prime time. Employers are going to be glad to have them to churn and burn because new grads are willing to accept a little less for the experience.. problem is the experience can't be traded up at this point unless you are VERY lucky.

Message edited 7/25/2012 9:20:02 PM.

Re: Are you "negative" about the economy to new grads?

Message edited 7/25/2012 9:18:00 PM.

Re: Are you "negative" about the economy to new grads?

I am new grad myself with my MA in special education. It is hard not to be negative but I do realize that things will change. The state of teaching is terrible right now but it will change at some point. I am not a 22 yr old new grad so it is tough but I know I made the right decision and I do not have regret. I just pray the tide will turn soon and when speaking to others I try to stay positive.

Re: Are you "negative" about the economy to new grads?

Re: Are you "negative" about the economy to new grads?

I try not to be overly negative, but I am very realistic. I graduated law school in 2004 and the legal market is so different today then it was then.

I've been very fortunate in my career and made a job change last summer and I am not in an attorney position but still work with laws daily. The change has actually put me in a better position for future work. Ironically, it's opened up more opportunities for me than than when I was working as a lawyer.

That being said, I tell people who are considering law school to think about it long and hard. It's a huge commitment financially, time wise, and the job market stinks across the board. I've spoken to law school students from my alma mater and I tell them to not be closed off to anything. I understand that they want that perfect job right after law school and they've worked unbelievably hard for the last 3 years, but it's just not realistic right now, which just kills me.

Re: Are you "negative" about the economy to new grads?

There is a huge difference in my book between realistic and negative. First off, I never offer up my opinion unless asked for because, let's face it, I'm not stupid enough to think my opinion is so important that even new grad needs to hear it unsolicited. That being said, when asked, I am honest. My cousins are in school now and looking to become teachers and when they ask me, I always tell them to really look into the field and see what positions are out there, etc. because times are tough for the field. So, like I said, I always advise new or soon to be grads to really look at job listings and careers that will be needed in the future. So not negative, just realistic.